Chiefs Trade Tony Gonzalez to Atlanta

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Kansas City Chiefs have traded tight end Tony Gonzales to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for a second round draft pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

“On behalf of my family and the Chiefs, I want to thank Tony for his time in Kansas City,” Chiefs Chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement issued Thursday announcing the trade. “Over the last 12 seasons, Tony has been one of the finest players in Chiefs history, and he will always be remembered as a member of the Chiefs. His play on the field speaks for itself – he holds almost every major NFL record for tight ends, and he is arguably the best to ever play his position. We wish him the best in Atlanta.”

Chiefs General Manager Scott Pioli said there were mixed emotions about the trade, both organizationally and personally. “I have the highest personal and professional respect for Tony and consider him to be a future Pro Football Hall of Famer.”

Gonzalez (6-5, 251) owns NFL career records for tight ends with 916 receptions, 10,940 receiving yards, 76 receiving TDs and 26 100-yard receiving games, totals that are the highest of any player in Kansas City history in all of those respective categories.

The 10-time Pro Bowler ranks ninth among all pass catchers in NFL history with 916 career receptions.

Gonzalez’s 916 career receptions rank ninth among all pass catchers in NFL history and are fourth among players who were active in 2008. He is one of only three tight ends to lead his franchise in career receptions.

The Huntington Beach, California native saw duty in 188 regular season games for Kansas City and started in 174 of those games.

The University of California product became just the fifth player and the first tight end in league history to produce 11 consecutive seasons with 50 or more catches in 2008. WR Jerry Rice (11) is the only player in league history with more consecutive 60-catch seasons than Gonzalez (10). He is the only tight end in NFL history to produce four 1,000-yard seasons.

Gonzalez was the Chiefs’ first round selection (13th overall) in the 1997 draft.